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Thread: Bolt Carrier Polishing Instruction Thread W/ PIX

  1. #21
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    All that finish wears off more than polishing eventually anyway.
    "You people have too much time on your hands." - scottryan

  2. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shao View Post
    I would be concerned about removing the finish as well. I'm also concerned with polishing the sides of the gas key - removing burrs is one thing, but considering the number of case-hardened MIM and investment cast gas keys floating around, I'd be too afraid that I'd remove the hardened layer, leaving a soft-sided gas key which doesn't sound like a good idea. Are most carriers through-hardened or case-hardened?
    Considering that the sides of the key wear far more than what top-layer of the finish I removed, I wouldn't worry. The shiny sides of the key in the photos were still black after polishing, which is probably better described regard the LMT gas key as buffing; the gas keys are already nitrided by LMT and the shiny surface you see was born by several thousands of rounds of wear in an anodized upper. Phosphated gas keys are far more rough and even then, the heat treat of the metal lies UNDER the phosphating.

    If you've ever seen the sides of an old Army M16A1 BCG, their carriers have had their finish well worn on their contact surfaces....no phosphating to be seen....and I've never seen a function issue in one of those due to the finish, or lack thereof. We have many hundreds of them in daily use by patrol deputies in my agency via the 1033 program.

    I have buffed several LMT gas keys (at least 4 gen 4 carriers and one gen 2 carrier; all appearing to be MIM), all of which have at least a thousand rounds in the various guns they are used in, and no excess wear has been seen. I'm just shy of 5k rounds on the one in the picture and I polished it immediately upon receipt.
    Last edited by BufordTJustice; 03-21-14 at 10:34.
    "That thing looks about as enjoyable as a bowl of exploding dicks." - Magic_Salad0892

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  3. #23
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    Seems like a waste of time and effort to me.

    Just shoot it. Who gives a shit if its "butter" smooth. As long as the weapon functions (which any quality gun should) then what is the point?

    You are introducing pre wear areas that may change the way the carrier and the upper wear. Keep in mind, the upper is Alum and the carrier is Steel, so which do you think is going to take more wear? The carriers are designed that way for a reason. Don't dick it up for some superfical modification.

  4. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by TurretGunner View Post
    Seems like a waste of time and effort to me.

    Just shoot it. Who gives a shit if its "butter" smooth. As long as the weapon functions (which any quality gun should) then what is the point?

    You are introducing pre wear areas that may change the way the carrier and the upper wear. Keep in mind, the upper is Alum and the carrier is Steel, so which do you think is going to take more wear? The carriers are designed that way for a reason. Don't dick it up for some superfical modification.
    IIRC this was originally done to help with varying power ammo and the a5 system to make everything more reliable.
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  5. #25
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    You have obviously not been paying attention to the multiple Vltor A5 threads where this process was recommended to address specific situations with regard to weapon setup.

    Feel free to not polish anything on your gun. Your comments are duly noted.


    Quote Originally Posted by TurretGunner View Post
    Seems like a waste of time and effort to me.

    Just shoot it. Who gives a shit if its "butter" smooth. As long as the weapon functions (which any quality gun should) then what is the point?

    You are introducing pre wear areas that may change the way the carrier and the upper wear. Keep in mind, the upper is Alum and the carrier is Steel, so which do you think is going to take more wear? The carriers are designed that way for a reason. Don't dick it up for some superfical modification.
    "That thing looks about as enjoyable as a bowl of exploding dicks." - Magic_Salad0892

    "The body cannot go where the mind has not already been."

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by TurretGunner View Post
    Who gives a shit if its "butter" smooth.
    This guy.

  7. #27
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    Don't forget to add the hello Kity paint job and Rhinestones while your at it.


    So just so we understand this..... This is needed so you can use the A5 system , which was touted as being the most reliable system available?

    And amazingly, the stock milspec RE and H2 buffers just keep on ticking on any builds I have seen. Solutions looking for problems.

    Law of unintended consequences always seems to prevail durring these times.
    Last edited by TurretGunner; 03-21-14 at 12:19.

  8. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by TurretGunner View Post
    Don't forget to add the hello Kity paint job and Rhinestones while your at it.


    So just so we understand this..... This is needed so you can use the A5 system , which was touted as being the most reliable system available?

    And amazingly, the stock milspec RE and H2 buffers just keep on ticking on any builds I have seen. Solutions looking for problems.

    Law of unintended consequences always seems to prevail durring these times.
    I think you need to utilize the search button prior to posting things like this.

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  9. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by TurretGunner View Post
    Don't forget to add the hello Kity paint job and Rhinestones while your at it.

    So just so we understand this..... This is needed so you can use the A5 system , which was touted as being the most reliable system available?

    And amazingly, the stock milspec RE and H2 buffers just keep on ticking on any builds I have seen. Solutions looking for problems.

    Law of unintended consequences always seems to prevail durring these times.
    This post is fukking absurd and embarrassing for this site. Although the H2 and USGI spring are a great combo most of the time if you run a carbine system, they're still not as good as the A5 or Rifle system.

    I'm not sure where you are getting that this is needed to run an A5. I've never done this mod, but I understand the point. It's simply skipping the break in of mating surfaces. Nothing more, nothing less.

    Smooth mating surfaces are a small factor in separating a quality gun from a mediocre gun. It's not a coincidence that a Colt RE is mirror smooth on the inside where as many aftermarkets are rough and chattery. And that most Colt Carriers have that nice satin finish instead of the LMT grit job.
    Last edited by markm; 03-21-14 at 12:49.
    "You people have too much time on your hands." - scottryan

  10. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by markm View Post
    This post is fukking absurd and embarrassing for this site. Although the H2 and USGI spring are a great combo most of the time if you run a carbine system, they're still not as good as the A5 or Rifle system.

    I'm not sure where you are getting that this is needed to run an A5. I've never done this mod, but I understand the point. It's simply skipping the break in of mating surfaces. Nothing more, nothing less.

    Smooth mating surfaces are a small factor in separating a quality gun from a mediocre gun. It's not a coincidence that a Colt RE is mirror smooth on the inside where as many aftermarkets are rough and chattery. And that most Colt Carriers have that nice satin finish instead of the LMT grit job.
    Markm is dead on correct on this.

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